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By rdnewsNOW staff

Private-sector investment

$10-billion data centre development proposed for Olds

Jan 27, 2026 | 2:34 PM

A new one-gigawatt data centre could be built in Olds.

On Tuesday, Synapse Data Center Inc. announced, as a result of a $10 billion private-sector investment, plans for a proposed major data centre development in Olds.

The organization said project construction is estimated to take two years and is expected to deliver significant economic, employment, and technological benefits at the local, regional, and national levels.

Synapse Data Center Inc. added that additional project details, timelines, and regulatory milestones will be released as approvals progress.

Once the centre is finished, the facility will be 10 times bigger than existing data centres across the country. This will position Olds and the province as a national hub for advanced data infrastructure and AI.

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During construction, the project is expected to create 2,000 jobs, and once it’s operational, over 1,000 long-term, high-skilled technology and operations jobs. Significant municipal revenue is also expected.

Synapse Data Center Inc. said Olds was selected as the ideal location because of several strategic advantages, including direct access to industrial natural gas infrastructure, robust fibre connectivity, and the community’s ideal location between Calgary, Edmonton, and Red Deer.

“Olds was the clear choice for this $10 billion investment because of the community’s proactive vision and the exceptional responsiveness of Invest Olds and the Town of Olds,” said Jason van Gaal, CEO, Synapse Data Center Inc, in a media release. “This collaboration allowed us to advance at the speed required by global technology timelines while leveraging a strategic location between Calgary, Edmonton and Red Deer that provides unparalleled access to a skilled workforce and robust supply chains. By creating over 1,000 long-term, high-skilled technology jobs and contributing significantly to the local tax base, we are ensuring that the benefits of the global AI boom are felt directly here in Olds.”

The facility, the organization says, is proposed to be powered by a closed-cycle natural gas system designed to achieve low emissions, which would be self-supplied and not connected to the provincial electrical grid.

In addition, the water system, a closed-loop design, would only require a one-time fill with less than one per cent of the Town’s daily water consumption. Eliminating the need to draw continuously from the Town’s water system.

“Olds is proud to be considered for what could become one of the most significant digital infrastructure investments in Canada,” said Dan Daley, Mayor of Olds. “This is a major milestone for our community and will offer many wonderful benefits – from jobs to taxes. We’re pleased with the professionalism and accountability Synapse has demonstrated.  Our town is uniquely positioned and prepared, and we know this will have a positive impact on Olds and the region. We look forward to working closely with partners and ensuring this initiative is approached responsibly and transparently.”

“Olds is increasingly being recognized as a community that can move from opportunity to action,” said Sandra Blyth, Economic Development Manager, Invest Olds. “We’re proud to support proactive, professional investment attraction that helps major projects move from opportunity to action. Global technology investments move quickly, and Invest Olds plays a key role in supporting early coordination, advancing project readiness, and ensuring transparency and community alignment throughout the process.”